I am looking at buying a 4 post lift for my garage and I have found a great deal on one from American Automotive Equipment (SS7000 model). I can get it delivered to my door for $2000.00 with aluminum ramps, caster kit, sliding jack tray and Poly drip trays. Does anyone own a lift from them? Does anyone have any info, good and bad, about this company?

I am also looking at an Eagle Lift for about $300.00 more with the same accessories.

Thanks - Ed

 

Please don't take this as a "search ****" post, but you'll find quite a few posts on the +/-'s of the various 4-posts with a search on lifts.

That said, most (if not all) of the ~$2K 4-post lifts are Chinese manufactured, and use "c-channel" posts -- posts open on one side with internal sliders. When I was looking for a lift, the comments on the Chinese c-channel units were mixed; some were "XXX lift is great!" to "YYY wobbles too much because of its post/slider arrangements." There were also comments expressing concern that the safety stops on the c-channel were only small, welded-on blocks, which could come off or allow the safety stop to slip off with small post deflection.

The more I looked, the more I concluded my money would be better spent in the long run by paying a bit more for a more stable unit. I ended up buying a lift with solid columns having small slots for the safety stops (i.e., no chance of a poor weld letting a welded-on block snap off), and external sliders which completely envelope the column (no chance of a safety stop slipping off a c-channel safety block if the column was hit).

Not trying to tell you which lift to get; just providing info to help you make an informed decision -- HTH

 

I'm hoping to buy a 4-poster soon, myself. I was hoping to already have one, but the garage addition ate up a little more $$ than expected, so the lift is on hold for 2-3 months.

That being said, I did a lot of "research", and have concluded that in lifts, like anything else, you get what you pay for. You're probably going to be standing under that lift, as well as storing your car(s) on it and underneath it. Would you really trust a $2000 (with "accessories", no less!) lift?? I certainly wouldn't..........

 

Ed,
I have to agree with mneblett about the "solid" posts versus the C channel posts - much better design IMHO. The only two companies that I know of that do this style are Backyard Buddy and (formerly Autolifters) All American Lifts. I don't know why but BYB's price seems to have exploded in the past year or two, far exceeding the higher cost for steel, etc., but I don't claim to be privy to their financials !! Of course maybe that's why Autolifters went out of business !! If All American is continuing to do as nice a job as Autolifters, they'll have a winner.

 

I bought one of the 4 posters. It is the c-channel type and probably made in china. It came with the extras. (I wish it had the alum ramps but mine are diamond plate steel) Anyway, I think the manufacture of these have evolved somewhat. I see improvments over the original design since they first came out. The safety locking on mine is more than just blocks welded to the channel face like you see in some adds. They created a secondary channel and weld the blocks inside of it creating a slot like result. This is on all four posts so when you get the lift at the level you want you activate the lowering lever and the spring loaded dogs on all four corners rest on the blocks. I cant see them failing unless the bolts holding the dogs shear. As for sturdyness, unless you bolt it to the floor, its gonna have some movement. I am not bolting mine down as I use the casters to move mine in and out of the garage. Also if your floor isnt level it can cause some movement. I have had my vette and my truck on mine with no problems. Its a 7000# rateing and you can buy them with higher rateings. My only regret would be not buying the wider model. I have to fold the mirrors on the truck to clear the posts
when I drive onto it. It is a bit spooky the first time you use it especially if you are doing it by yourself. You really cant see the ramps from inside the vehicle to know where your tires are. Im gonna get some mirrors and mount them on the back posts somehow so I can see whats going on. If your have a major car show going on near you, a lot of times the vendors of these set up displays so you can see them in action. The new version of mine I saw had the ramps set up where they angled up when the lift went up so you dont have to remove them before you lift. They also have a new attachment with two arms for jacking up one end of the car so you can remove the wheels to do brake work ect. Kinda pricey but neat. Keep doing your research and you will find something that will meet your needs and price range. It will pay for itself the first time you use it. Good luck.

 

This is the lift I purchased (their model M-815 (8000lb, 15ft long rails)). I'm happy with the design and overall quality (although the paint's too easy to scratch off, IMO). I haven't seen an Autolifters product, but since it's the same design produced by former employees, I'm assuming it's essentially the same lift. www.allamericanlifts.com

One other reason I picked this lift is that it's a bit wider than most of the Chinese lifts. I preferred the extra space for three reasons: I park my C5 under the lift (far less concern for inadvertant scraping against one of the posts), I don't have to fold in the mirrors of my wife's F-150 (they fit between the posts with about 1/2" to spare on either side), and with the optional deck plates, the greater total width allows me to park several motorcycles on top of the lift in just about any arrangement -- great flexibility.

Mark

 

made in america. BACKYARD BUDDY. warren, ohio. IMHO.

 

And All American Lifts is made in Kansas.

 

Bend-Pak. Santa Paula, California.